Sony Cyber-shot HX90 and W500: two little cameras with two big zooms

Sony has just pulled the wrappings off a prime pair of fresh compact cameras, and the watchword with both? ZOOM.

The Cyber-shot HX90 (successor to the beloved HX60) and Cyber-shot W500 are both small enough to be described as “pocket-friendly”, but both sport a Carl Zeiss lens with 30x optical zoom, offering an equivalent range of 25-750mm.

That’s a huge zoom range for a small camera, and if you were wondering how you might snap clear images towards that 750mm end of it, Sony has also squeezed its new 5-axis image stabilisation system (recently used to terrific effect on the A7 II compact system camera) inside, which should keep the camera’s optics and 18.2MP sensor steady when your hands aren’t up to the job.

Both models feature manual shooting modes for both stills and full HD video (for which the new high quality XAVC S format is available), as well as improved autofocus, 3in 180-degree tilting screen and Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity.

The main difference between the two models is that the HX90 comes with an OLED viewfinder. There’s also an HX90V variant that adds GPS to the mix.

All three cameras will go on sale “early summer” 2015. We’ve asked Sony for pricing information, and will update this story once we’ve got it.

Update: We now have confirmed prices. The Sony HX90 will be £330 (₹31,700), the HX90V £340 (₹32,700), and the W500 £280 (₹27,000).